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Zhang S, Yu Q, Li Z, Zhao Y, Sun Y. Protein neddylation and its role in health and diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:85. [PMID: 38575611 PMCID: PMC10995212 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01800-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
NEDD8 (Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8) is an ubiquitin-like protein that is covalently attached to a lysine residue of a protein substrate through a process known as neddylation, catalyzed by the enzyme cascade, namely NEDD8 activating enzyme (E1), NEDD8 conjugating enzyme (E2), and NEDD8 ligase (E3). The substrates of neddylation are categorized into cullins and non-cullin proteins. Neddylation of cullins activates CRLs (cullin RING ligases), the largest family of E3 ligases, whereas neddylation of non-cullin substrates alters their stability and activity, as well as subcellular localization. Significantly, the neddylation pathway and/or many neddylation substrates are abnormally activated or over-expressed in various human diseases, such as metabolic disorders, liver dysfunction, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancers, among others. Thus, targeting neddylation becomes an attractive strategy for the treatment of these diseases. In this review, we first provide a general introduction on the neddylation cascade, its biochemical process and regulation, and the crystal structures of neddylation enzymes in complex with cullin substrates; then discuss how neddylation governs various key biological processes via the modification of cullins and non-cullin substrates. We further review the literature data on dysregulated neddylation in several human diseases, particularly cancer, followed by an outline of current efforts in the discovery of small molecule inhibitors of neddylation as a promising therapeutic approach. Finally, few perspectives were proposed for extensive future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhen Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Qing Yu
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, China
- Key Laboratory of Head & Neck Cancer Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310022, China
| | - Zhijian Li
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Yongchao Zhao
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
| | - Yi Sun
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
- Leading Innovative and Entrepreneur Team Introduction Program of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
- Research Center for Life Science and Human Health, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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Zhang Y, Du L, Wang C, Jiang Z, Duan Q, Li Y, Xie Z, He Z, Sun Y, Huang L, Lu L, Wen C. Neddylation is a novel therapeutic target for lupus by regulating double negative T cell homeostasis. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:18. [PMID: 38221551 PMCID: PMC10788348 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01709-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a severe autoimmune disorder, is characterized by systemic inflammatory response, autoantibody accumulation and damage to organs. The dysregulation of double-negative (DN) T cells is considered as a crucial commander during SLE. Neddylation, a significant type of protein post-translational modification (PTM), has been well-proved to regulate T cell-mediated immune response. However, the function of neddylation in SLE is still unknown. Here, we reported that neddylation inactivation with MLN4924, a specific inhibitor of NEDD8-activating enzyme E1 (NAE1), or genetic abrogation of Ube2m in T cells decreased DN T cell accumulation and attenuated murine lupus development. Further investigations revealed that inactivation of neddylation blocked Bim ubiquitination degradation and maintained Bim level in DN T cells, contributing to the apoptosis of the accumulated DN T cells in lupus mice. Then double knockout (KO) lupus-prone mice (Ube2m-/-Bim-/-lpr) were generated and results showed that loss of Bim reduced Ube2m deficiency-induced apoptosis in DN T cells and reversed the alleviated lupus progression. Our findings identified that neddylation inactivation promoted Bim-mediated DN T cell apoptosis and attenuated lupus progression. Clinically, we also found that in SLE patients, the proportion of DN T cells was raised and their apoptosis was reduced. Moreover, compared to healthy groups, SLE patients exhibited decreased Bim levels and elevated Cullin1 neddylation levels. Meantime, the inhibition of neddylation induced Bim-dependent apoptosis of DN T cells isolated from SLE patients. Altogether, our findings provide the direct evidence about the function of neddylation during lupus, suggesting a promising therapeutic approach for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Lijun Du
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Chenxi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Zhangsheng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Qingchi Duan
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Yiping Li
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Zhijun Xie
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Zhixing He
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education) of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Lin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
| | - Liwei Lu
- Department of Pathology and Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Chongqing International Institute for Immunology, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Chengping Wen
- Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Chinese Medical Clinical Foundation and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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Wu D. Proapoptotic protein Bim regulates the suppressive function of Treg cells. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2023; 24:1180-1184. [PMID: 38057275 PMCID: PMC10710911 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2300288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a special immunosuppressive subset of cluster of differentiation 4-positive (CD4+)-T lymphocytes and play a pivotal role in the establishment of immune homeostasis in vivo (Zhang et al., 2021). The transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3) is the master marker of Treg cells, which is highly expressed in Treg cells and is also essential for their suppressive function (Hori et al., 2003). In addition to Foxp3, other regulators of Treg cells have been discovered (Wu et al., 2017, 2022; Wu and Sun, 2023a, 2023b); however, a deeper understanding of the regulation of these cells is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
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Mao H, Lin X, Sun Y. Neddylation Regulation of Immune Responses. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2023; 6:0283. [PMID: 38434245 PMCID: PMC10907026 DOI: 10.34133/research.0283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Neddylation plays a vital role in post-translational modification, intricately shaping the regulation of diverse biological processes, including those related to cellular immune responses. In fact, neddylation exerts control over both innate and adaptive immune systems via various mechanisms. Specifically, neddylation influences the function and survival of innate immune cells, activation of pattern recognition receptors and GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes pathways, as well as the release of various cytokines in innate immune reactions. Moreover, neddylation also governs the function and survival of antigen-presenting cells, which are crucial for initiating adaptive immune reactions. In addition, neddylation regulates T cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, survival, and their effector functions, thereby ensuring an appropriate adaptive immune response. In this review, we summarize the most recent findings in these aspects and delve into the connection between dysregulated neddylation events and immunological disorders, especially inflammatory diseases. Lastly, we propose future directions and potential treatments for these diseases by targeting neddylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Mao
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education) of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Translational Medicine,
Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029, China
- Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xin Lin
- Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education) of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Translational Medicine,
Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029, China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Life Science and Human Health,
Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310053, China
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